Resignati-a vu and gut lessons

This time last year, there about, I handed my resignation in from my, then, full time job. Whilst at the time I thought I was just going to find another job, it slowly turned into a business idea which would appear to be a good one, from the feedback I’ve received from those I’ve told it to. So I started looking into it, and getting a little background information, checking out websites, talking to those who had started businesses from scratch and had owned their own businesses in the past. And to further validate the idea, I was getting a few jobs along the way, just not under my business, employed under their terms. There was definitely a call for what I was offering. And then my former work asked me to help out, as they were ‘having trouble’ finding someone. So I did that and then both places that I was working at, suddenly told me I was no longer needed as they had found people, or had people return. Suddenly, but not really unexpectedly. I was asked if I wanted to do some kitchenhand shifts, but I declined, knowing the path that would lead down.

Then, there was a time of no work, which I wasn’t particularly worried about. I got some exercise in, rested, and was feeling pretty good. I could imagine that this was what it would be like living the life of financial freedom. Of course, I wasn’t financially free, and the money began to grow scant, but the Universe did provide. Two more temp positions opened up: one for a month and another also for a month, which turned into 6 weeks. And then my former work asked me to help out again, as my replacement was moving on. And so I stepped in once again.

Then it got to the point where the other chef needed a break from having to close every weekend, so I was asked to help out one day there, and then two. Then one of the kitchenhands left suddenly, and they needed someone straight away: “Would you mind stepping in just for a few weeks, one day, until we find someone?” Here, again, I SHOULD have said no. But I didn’t, because I like to help out. And what I thought would happen, began to happen. Even though I was there as a kitchenhand, I was being asked to cook the occasional order while the other chef was having a smoke break. Regardless of what I COULD do, I wasn’t supposed to be there in that capacity. I wasn’t being paid extra money to do extra tasks, I was being paid extra money because I was an immediate and casual fill-in. So I thought. That was well over 6 months ago, and now I’m working 3-4 days a week at the place that I resigned from.

I had lessons to learn, those being: always pay attention to your gut, your instinct. And if you are going to do something to help out, do so with a time frame.